Garment pouch and barrier system for improved male genital comfort

ABSTRACT

A garment system that mitigates the phallic abrasion discomfort in human males.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present system is related to garments and more specifically togarments dedicated to improving male genital comfort.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM

Males face unique problems in obtaining convenient genital comfort,especially those who are circumcised.

A study by Bronselaer G A et al. (2013) observed that circumcised malesexperience a greater degree of discomfort in clothing, in comparison tointact males.

Circumcision is a highly controversial surgical procedure involving theremoval of genital tissue and can be performed on both females andmales. In males, the prepuce or “foreskin” is removed, a removal ofapproximately 50 to 75 percent of the erotogenic tissue.

The foreskin has been found by Sorrells et al. (2007) to contain themost sensitive parts of the phallus and performs many vital functions.This tissue also provides males a natural form of protection fromabrasive discomfort and damage.

As a result of circumcised males lacking this natural form ofprotection, their specialized erogenous tissue is permanently exposed toany fabric they may wear. The present system mitigates this abrasivediscomfort by means of isolating the phallus from other surfaces andbuffering it against the forces which induce abrasive movement.

In addition to being more susceptible to friction discomfort,circumcised males also experience decreased sensation in the remainingtissue. This is supported by Sorrells et al. (2007) and Bronselaer G Aet al. (2013), both studies concluding that the remaining erogenouszones of circumcised males are less sensitive than that of intact males.

This is understood to not only deprive these males of a full sexualexperience, but is associated with various sexual dysfunctions, such aserectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. According to Bollingerand Van Howe (2011), circumcised men are 4.5 times more likely to use anerectile dysfunction drug and 2.5 times more likely to suffer frompremature ejaculation.

Various ointments, protective sleeves and foreskin restoration methodshave been developed to address these issues. Such products and methodsclaim to not only mitigate abrasion discomfort, but also make claim torestoring lost sensation. The same effect is also observed with thepresent system; however, further study is needed to confirm to whatextent this may be.

Additional benefits to the present system is its ability to mitigategenital sticking, and prevent embarrassing incontinence incidents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM

The present system is comprised of three (3) components; a shellstructure, a pouch structure, and bilateral barrier structures.

The Shell Structure

The shell structure can be represented by any garment comprised offabric that is designed to generally conform to a person's hips andlegs. This is to include, but is not limited to: 1. Briefs, 2. BoxerBriefs, 3. Thermal Underwear, 4. Shorts, and 5. Pants.

The shell structure is preferred to be any form of long style boxerbriefs designed to generally conform snugly to the user's hips and legs,said boxer brief style shell structure further preferred to beconstructed from soft elastic fabric, such as modal. Outerwear such asshorts or pants may be comprised of the inner components as a form of2-in-1 underwear/outerwear system.

The Pouch Structure

Inside the frontal interior of the shell structure is comprised a pouchstructure. The pouch structure is primarily designed to enable the userto isolate the phallus from contacting the scrotum, the legs, theabdomen, and the shell structure by inserting the phallus into theformed cavity of the pouch structure. Additionally, the scrotum may alsobe inserted into the cavity of the pouch structure, however, the size ofthe entry port may be to be enlarged to accommodate the entirety of themale genitalia.

The pouch structure must have dimensions sufficient to comfortablyaccommodate and secure the phallus in both up, side and down positions,as a user may require. The pouch structure is constructed in such a wayas to form a single pouch unit comprising a posterior side, an anteriorside, a top end, a bottom end and side ends. All sides being whollyclosed except for the top end, which is left open for the ability forthe user to insert the hands. The pouch structure, in its preferredform, generally resembles an inverted trapezoid, having its top endwider than its bottom end.

The pouch structure may be formed employing any number of panelscomprised of any elastic material, but is preferably comprised of fabricand constructed by integrating two separate fabric panels together ofapproximate equal dimensions by any means, but preferably by knitting.The preferred length of the pouch structure measured from the top end tothe bottom end is between 20 cm and 22 cm.

The pouch structure may be comprised of any fabric type, but ispreferred to be comprised of stretch micro-suede of 160 gsm due to itssuperior anti-abrasion qualities over all other fabric types.Additionally, micro-suede fabric is understood to increase the degree ofsensation restoration over other fabrics as a result of said superioranti-abrasion characteristics, as it is understood that the degree offabric abrasion is inversely correlated to phallus sensitivity.

As a means for the user to insert the genitalia into this formed cavity,the pouch structure is comprised of an entry port on its posterior side.Said entry port is preferred to be centered as depicted in the drawings,but may be located higher or lower. The entry port may be a slit, roundor angular hole of any size or shape.

The preferred type and location of entry port is that of a centeredvertical slit as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. A round hole styleentry port is illustrated in FIG. 2. The entry port must be large enoughto comfortably enable a user to insert the phallus without effort andsmall enough to reliably prevent the phallus from easily escaping theprotective cavity of the pouch structure. The preferred circumference ofthe entry port is between 10 and 14 cm, the most preferred being 12 cm.

The pouch structure is preferably integrated to the interior portions ofthe shell structure by only the pouch structure's top and bottom ends.

The side ends may be integrated to the shell structure, as illustratedin FIG. 3, but this is not preferred. See claim 3. The side ends of thepouch structure may be straight, angled or curved, but the pouchstructure is preferably comprised of straight side ends as illustratedin the drawings.

The side ends are preferably wholly unattached from the shell structureas to enable maximum counter movement of the pouch structure's anteriorside against the shell structure. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG.2.

Any means of integration of the pouch structure to the shell structureis allowable, to include, but not limited to; knitting, sonic bonding,adhesive, Velcro®, buttons, or any combination thereof. It is preferredthat knitting be the means of integration.

The top end of the pouch structure is preferably wholly integrated near,at or proximate to the top edge or waistband of the shell structure (asillustrated in the drawings), but adjacent sections of the side ends maybe considered a part of the top end if increased strength of integrationof the top end is desired. The preferred range of width of the top endof the pouch structure is between 15 cm and 19 cm, the most preferredwidth being 17 cm.

The top end being open or readily opened as to allow the user easytop-down insertion of the hands into the cavity to enable convenientadjustment and insertion of the phallus within the pouch structure'scavity. The open top end of the pouch structure may utilize any form ofnon-permanent/reversible integration, such as buttons or Velcro®, as ameans to temporarily close the top end, if the user desires, but this isnot preferred.

Another benefit to the open top of the pouch structure is that itenables the user to flip down the top edge of the shell structure as ameans to readily expose the phallus for urination, adjustment, sexualactivity or any other reason a user may have without requiring the userto first extract and reinsert the phallus through the entry port.

The bottom end of the pouch structure may be integrated to the shellstructure along any point of the pouch structure's bottom end, eitherpartially or wholly. The bottom end of the pouch structure is preferredto be partially integrated to the portion of the shell structure asillustrated in FIG. 1, having its center unattached for improved genitalcooling. Additionally, adjacent sections of the side ends may beconsidered a part of the bottom end if increased strength of integrationof the bottom end is desired.

The bottom end of the pouch structure is preferably located about theportions of the shell structure that reside approximately just below andslightly behind the user's scrotum when worn, but may be integratedanywhere as long as there is moderate tension about the groin to ensureproper securement of the genitals.

Enough tension is needed about the groin to ensure the phallus does noteasily escape the pouch structure and not so snug as to induceuncomfortable pressure about the scrotum. The preferred range of widthof the bottom end of the pouch structure is between 3 cm and 7 cm, themost preferred width being 5 cm.

Bilateral Barrier Structures

To further protect the genitals from contact to the legs, bilateralsupport structures are added as shown and described.

Said barrier structures comprising of two fabric barrier structures, onestructure for each side end of the pouch structure as illustrated in thedrawings. Each barrier structure being comprised of three (3) ends; aposterior end, an anterior end, and a bottom end. The anterior ends ofsaid barrier structures being integrated to the side ends of the pouchstructure and the bottom ends of said barrier structures beingintegrated to the bottom portions of the shell structure. The posteriorends of the barrier structures comprising an open edge and contactingthe skin of the user when worn. The anterior ends are preferablyintegrated to the side ends of the pouch structure; however, they may beintegrated to the shell structure for the versions where the pouchstructure is wholly integrated to the shell structure. See claim 3.

The posterior ends of said barrier structures are designed to conform tothe groin crevices under slight tension when worn, thus acting as abarrier against genital contact from the legs.

The bilateral barrier structures act to primarily prevent scrotalcontact to the legs, add stabilizing tension to the pouch structure, andto provide an additional measure of prevention of phallus to leg/shellstructure contact, if the phallus escapes the internal cavity of thepouch structure.

If the user relies on the pouch structure to separate both the phallusand scrotum from contact with the legs and/or shell structure, thebilateral barrier structures may act as extra assurance of preventingsaid contact if both the phallus and scrotum are to escape the internalcavity of the pouch structure.

The bilateral barrier structures are preferably comprised of any form offabric, but preferably comprised of mesh to ensure adequate cooling tothe genitals. The posterior end being preferably comprised of a hemabout or approximate to its edge for strength and stability, asindicated by the dashed lines in the drawings. The bilateral barrierstructures should be spaced far apart enough as to comfortablyaccommodate the scrotum of the user.

The bilateral barrier structures may take any angle relative to eachother. Note in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, that the ends of said structures areangled towards each other. It is preferred that they bed slightly angledtowards each other as to better secure the genitals within the formedspace. The rear ends or points of the bilateral structures may even havesuch a more extreme angle as illustrated in FIG. 3, or even such anangle which causes their rear portions to contact each other as well.The most preferred angle is illustrated in FIG. 1, which is also thebest mode.

The vertical extent to which of the bilateral barrier structures are tobe integrated to the side ends of the pouch structure or shell structuremay be any height, but are preferred to be anywhere between theapproximate latitudinal center of the pouch structure, as illustrated inFIG. 2, or to the top end of the pouch structure, as illustrated in FIG.3.

The most preferred extent to which the bilateral barrier structures areintegrated to the sides of the pouch structure is illustrated in FIG. 1and FIG. 3. This is not to limit the vertical extent of the bilateralbarrier structures in any way, as the anterior ends of the bilateralbarrier structures may be integrated to any extent along the length ofthe side ends of the pouch structure, but are preferred to be at orabove the latitudinal center of the pouch structure.

The bottom ends of the bilateral barrier structures are preferablyintegrated wholly along bottom portions of the outer shell asillustrated in all drawings.

The bilateral barrier structures are to extend rearwardly in a manner asto create moderate tension about the groin crevices on the user side orposterior edge to achieve ideal comfort and function of preventinggenital contact to the legs. The rearward extent of the bilateralbarrier structures is preferred to be approximately just below (orslightly beyond) the perineum of the user, when worn. An extentapproximate to the extent shown in the drawings.

BEST MODE

The best mode is illustrated in FIG. 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments in the drawings represent a top-down forward facingcutaway view of the interior front face of a boxer brief style shellstructure. The dashed line along the posterior end of the bilateralbarrier structures represents a hem, but is only preferred and notrequired.

FIG. 1

This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim 1 andthe best mode. Note how the center section of the pouch structure'sbottom end is unattached, allowing for improved genital cooling.

The bilateral barrier structures also having top ends with an upwardextent being approximately between the top edge of the pouch structureand the top end of the entry port and bottom ends that are preferably atleast 10 cm in length or greater.

1. Shell Structure

2. Entry Port

3. Pouch Structure

4. The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that thetop end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in phallus insertionand adjustment.

5. Bilateral Barrier Structures

FIG. 2

This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim 1. Notethe smaller barrier structures, the round entry port and the bottom endof the pouch structure being wholly integrated to the shell structure.

1. Shell Structure

2. Entry Port

3. Pouch Structure

4. The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that thetop end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in phallus insertionand adjustment.

5. Bilateral Barrier Structures

FIG. 3

This illustration shows an embodiment within the scope of claim 2. Notethat the side ends of the pouch structure are integrated to the shellstructure.

1. Shell Structure

2. Entry Port

3. Pouch Structure

4. The anterior side of the pouch structure and to illustrate that thetop end is open for insertion of the hands to aid in phallus insertionand adjustment.

5. Bilateral Barrier Structures

I claim:
 1. A garment system comprising a hip and leg conforming shellstructure; and said shell structure comprising a pouch structure withinits interior, said pouch structure comprising a posterior side, ananterior side, an open top end, a closed bottom end, two closed sideends, and a genital entry port about its posterior side, forming anisolation cavity thereby in which the male genitalia, either in whole orin part, may be inserted into; and said pouch structure's bottom endbeing integrated to the bottom portion of the shell structure and thepouch structure's top end being integrated to the upper frontal portionof the shell structure; and the side ends of the pouch structure beingleft unattached from the shell structure; and said garment system beingfurther comprised of two barrier structures, each of said structurescomprising three ends; a posterior end, an anterior end, and a bottomend; and said anterior ends of the barrier structures being integratedto the side ends of the pouch structure, and the bottom ends of saidbarrier structures being integrated to the bottom portions of the shellstructure, and the posterior ends of the said barrier structurescontacting the skin of the user.
 2. A garment system comprising a hipand leg conforming shell structure; and said shell structure comprisinga pouch structure within its interior, said pouch structure comprising aposterior side, an anterior side, an open top end, a closed bottom end,two closed side ends, and a genital entry port about its posterior side,forming an isolation cavity thereby in which the male genitalia, eitherin whole or in part, may be inserted into; and said pouch structure'sbottom end being integrated to the bottom portion of the shell structureand the pouch structure's top end being integrated to the upper frontalportion of the shell structure; and the side ends of the pouch structurebeing integrated to the shell structure; and said garment system beingfurther comprised of two barrier structures, each of said structurescomprising three ends; a posterior end, an anterior end, and a bottomend; and said anterior ends of the barrier structures being integratedto the side ends of the pouch structure and the bottom ends of saidbarrier structures being integrated to the bottom portions of the shellstructure, and the posterior ends of said barrier structures contactingthe skin of the user.
 3. A garment system comprising a hip and legconforming shell structure; and said shell structure comprising a pouchstructure within its interior, said pouch structure comprising aposterior side, an anterior side, an open top end, a closed bottom end,two closed side ends, and a genital entry port about its posterior side,forming an isolation cavity thereby in which the male genitalia, eitherin whole or in part, may be inserted into; and said pouch structure'sbottom end being integrated to the bottom portion of the shell structureand the pouch structure's top end being integrated to the upper frontalportion of the shell structure; and the side ends of the pouch structurebeing integrated to the shell structure; and said garment system beingfurther comprised of two barrier structures, each of said structurescomprising three ends; a posterior end, an anterior end, and a bottomend; and said anterior ends of the barrier structures being integratedto the side ends of the shell structure and the bottom ends of saidbarrier structures being integrated to the bottom portions of the shellstructure, and the posterior ends of said barrier structures contactingthe skin of the user.